Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Six more children could have disease

By Cheryl Clark

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

February 12, 2008

San Diego County's first measles outbreak in 17 years may have expanded from four children last week to 10 yesterday. The six new patients, including four infants, may have contracted the viral disease while in the office of the doctor who treated the first sick child.

Shares tumbled $10.85, 20.2 percent, to $43 in after-hours electronic trading. The stock closed down $1.35, or 2.5 percent, to $53.85 during the regular session.

The company said it expects a first-quarter profit of 11 cents per share to 14 cents per share. Adjusted for anticipated stock-based compensation expenses, Blue Nile forecasts earnings per share of 18 cents to 21 cents. Analysts, meanwhile, forecast a profit of 23 cents per share, according to a Thomson Financial poll.